Metropolitan racing in Victoria is held in Melbourne and is home to four city racecourses which are spread well out from each other.
Flemington is home to the Spring carnival of Group 1 racing in November which culminates with the running of our biggest race The Melbourne Cup over 3200m, while Caulfield holds a number of Group ones throughout the racing season with the Caulfield Cup over 2400m being their premier event.
Moonee Valley hosts the W.S. Cox Plate which is a renowned WFA event run over 2040m where only the best horses compete each October, and Sandown only holds a handful of major races and their feature race is the Sandown Classic which is a 2400m weight-for-age race in November.
Melbourne Race Tracks
FLEMINGTON RACE TRACK
Circumference: 2,312 metres | Straight: 450 metres | Direction: Anti-Clockwise
| Major Races |
| March: Australian Guineas, Newmarket Hcp, Australian Cup |
| November: Victoria Oaks, Victoria Derby, Melbourne Cup |
| Track |
| Big roomy track with a very long straight that gives every chance to all types of horses from any running position. Horses can lead or come from behind and often it is a superior jockey who often makes the difference when the going gets tough. It is home to Australia's most famous race, the people's race The Melbourne Cup. |
| Contact Details |
Victoria Racing Club
Contact: James Earls, VRC General Manager Racing
448 Epsom Road,
Flemington, Vic 3031, Australia
Phone: +61 3 8378 0720
Fax: +61 3 9376 5846 |
CAULFIELD RACE TRACK
Circumference: 2,080 metres | Straight: 367 metres | Direction: Anti-Clockwise
| Major Races |
| Feb/March: Blue Diamond Stakes, Oakleigh Plate, Futurity Stakes |
| October: Caulfield Guineas, Thousand Guineas, Caulfield Cup |
| Track |
| Sweeping long turns with a slight uphill run to the 1400m mark and with the tight turns and short straight it is a good track for front runners as it is not easy to come from behind and win. Home of the Caulfield Cup. |
| Contact Details |
Melbourne Racing Club
Contact: John Faulkner, Manager Racing
Postal Address: P.O. Box 321, Caulfield East, Vic 3145, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9257 7200
Fax: +61 3 9257 7219 |
MOONEE VALLEY RACE TRACK
Circumference: 1,805 metres | Straight: 173 metres | Direction: Anti-Clockwise
| Major Races |
| September: Manikato Stakes |
| October: Waterford Crystal Mile, Moonee Valley Cup, Cox Plate |
| Track |
| Tight track with a very short straight and is somewhat of a specialist track which is definitely suited to front runners or horses that race on the pace. Home to time honoured WFA race the W.S. Cox Plate. |
| Contact Details |
Moonee Valley Racing Club
Contact: Vin Lowe, Racing Operations Manager
PO Box 245, Moonee Ponds, Vic 3039, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9373 2242
Fax: +61 3 9370 0017 |
SANDOWN LAKESIDE RACE TRACK
Circumference: 1,891 metres | Straight: 407 metres | Direction: Anti-Clockwise
| Hillside Track |
| Races conducted on the Hillside track use the outside 30 metres section of the main straight. A moveable rail is positioned along the length of the straight to protect the inside 15 metres for the Lakeside track.
This new track has an increased circumference of 2087 metres. The length of the main straight is 491 metres, compared to 407 metres for the former Sandown track and the Lakeside track. |
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| Major Races |
| November: Sandown Guineas, Sandown Classic |
| Track |
| Big roomy track with a long straight that is a tough run home if you are leading the field into the straight and trying to hold on till the line. Ideally suited to fast finishing horses and is somewhat of a track specialist course. |
| Contact Details |
Melbourne Racing Club
591-659 Princes Hwy
Springvale, Victoria
Phone: +61 3 9518 1300 (Horse Racing)
Phone: +61 3 9518 1362 (Venue Hire) |
Melbourne country track information can be found at our VIC Provincial Tracks page.
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